When you enter the product key for Microsoft 2007 Office applications or Office 2003 applications, an error message indicates that the product key is invalid.

This issue may occur even though you have verified that the product key is correct.

This issue occurs because one of the following scenarios has occured:

• You installed a Microsoft Office 2007 suite from a retail box that you purchased from a retail store.
• You used the product key that appears on a sticker located on the bottom of your laptop or on your desktop case.

The following resolutions apply to the Microsoft Office 2007 and the Microsoft Office 2003 suite.

Method 1

1. If you installed a Microsoft Office 2007 suite from a retail box that you purchased from a retail store, then open Control Panel. Then, open Add or Remove Programs or Programs and Features and verify if there is another copy of an Office 2007 suite installed in addition to the suite you have already installed.
2. Preinstalled Office 2007 trial suites frequently conflict with the product key validation process. If you see a copy of Office 2007 suite installed, such as a trial version or a version labeled "2007 Microsoft Office system", then uninstall that suite and the Office Activation Assistant. Then, enter the product key again when you are prompted.
   
   NoteYou do not need to uninstall Office Activation Assistant if this item is not displayed in Add or Remove Programs or Programs and Features.

Method 2

The 25-digit product key that you found on a sticker on the bottom of your laptop or on your desktop case is not the correct key. This key is the product key for Windows and not for the Office 2007 suite. The correct product key for the Office 2007 suite will be in one of the following locations:

• Inside the retail Office 2007 box if you purchased your product from a retail store.
• In an e-mail message from the online Web site where you purchased the Office 2007 suite.
• On a sticker located on the outside of the CD case.

Additional resolutions

If the preceding resolutions do not work, try one of the following alternate resolutions to fix your issue:

• Remove the Microsoft Office 2003 suite or the 2007 Microsoft Office suite.
  
  Note For more information about how to remove the Office 2007 or 2003 suites, see the "More Information" section.
• Re-enter the product key for the Microsoft Office 2003 suite or the 2007 Microsoft Office system
  
  Note For more information about how to re-enter the product key see the "More Information" section.
• Re-install the Microsoft Office 2003 suite or the 2007 Microsoft Office suite
  
  Note For more information about how to reinstall the Office 2003 or 2007 suites, see the "More Information" section.

To work around this problem, uninstall any unnecessary Office 2003 or 2007 suites. To do this, following these steps.

How to remove Office 2007 or 2003 suites

1. Click Start, and then click Run.
2. In the Open box, type appwiz.cpl, and then click OK.
3. In the Currently installed programs list, locate and then click either the previously installed Office 2007 or 2003 suites or the individual Office application.
   
   Note Remove any trial versions of Office 2007 that were preinstalled by the computer manufacturer. For example, the computer manufacturer may have preinstalled 2007 Microsoft Office system or Office 2007 Home & Student Trial.
4. Click Remove.
5. Click Yes when you are prompted to confirm that you want to remove the Office 2007 or 2003 suite or individual application.

Re-enter the product key

Retail versions of the Office 2007 or 2003 suite are self-repairing. To repair the version of Office 2007 or 2003 that is installed, start any Office application and follow the instructions to enter the product key. To do this, follow these steps:

Note If a retail version of a Office 2007 or 2003 suite is not installed, go to step 4.

1. Exit any programs that are running and close all open windows.
2. Start an Office application. For example, start Microsoft Office Word or Microsoft Office Excel.
3. Type the product key for the retail version of the Office 2003 or 2007 suite when you are prompted.

Reinstall Office suites

In some cases, you may have to reinstall the Office 2007 or 2003 suite. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, and then click Run.
2. In the Open box, type Appwiz.cpl, and then click OK.
3. In the Add or Remove Programs dialog box, click Add New Programs.
4. Click CD or Floppy.
5. In the Install Program From Floppy Disk or CD-ROM dialog box, make sure that the Office CD is in the CD drive or DVD drive, and then click Next.
6. Click Finish, and then follow the instructions to complete the installation of the Office 2007 or 2003 suite.
7. Click OK when Setup is finished.
8. Remove the CD from the CD or DVD drive.
9. Start an Office 2007 or 2003 application, and then type the product key when you are prompted.

Related links:

• Troubleshooting other product key issues (http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/help/ha012004411033.aspx)
• How to install and activate 2007 Microsoft Office system programs (http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/help/HA101733401033.aspx)
• How to enter the Product Key for your 2007 Office system program (http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/help/ha101769311033.aspx)

Click the following links to find more options if this article cannot resolve your problem:

• Microsoft Answer Center (http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/default.aspx)
• Office Forum Support (http://social.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/genuineoffice/threads)